“No, no, there shouldn’t be nothing, right?”
Jiang Huai’s gaze fell on Chu Xianning. As the Saintess of the Qingxuan Sect, Chu Xianning had always had the best of everything. Her clothes, besides those given to her by Jiang Huai, also included new arrivals from Ziyun Pavilion each season, delivered according to her measurements.
Ziyun Pavilion even provided them free of charge.
Both Luoyue Pavilion and Chu Xianning received such treatment. Ziyun Pavilion had long understood the way of business. While these small gifts weren’t much and not worth many spirit stones, they were genuine favors that could be repaid later.
Currently, Chu Xianning was wearing a sleeveless black dress. Though it was merely black, its design had many exquisite details. The hem was shorter in the front and longer in the back, and a ribbon at the waist clung tightly to her figure. Due to Chu Xianning’s full chest, a small glimpse of snow-white side breast seemed to be exposed. Jiang Huai remembered Chu Xianning wearing this dress before, but she would wear underwear underneath and a small shawl as a cover-up.
Now, she sat there innocently, her white and tender toes dangling, her eyes clear and guileless.
“As long as I don’t leave the courtyard, it’s okay even if I don’t have… anything, right?” Chu Xianning’s fingertips touched the storage ring she wore, and she held a pair of silver-gray high heels in her hand. “Can Jiang Huai Gege help me put them on?”
Jiang Huai took the shoes and knelt before Chu Xianning, carefully helping her put them on. As he gently fastened the straps of the high heels, he casually looked up and noticed Chu Xianning’s hand pressing lightly on the hem of her dress in front of her thighs. Her snow-white, plump thighs were completely covered by the black fabric. However, just as he looked up, Chu Xianning’s legs parted slightly, and her fingertips lifted the hem of her skirt a bit higher.
Jiang Huai’s vision was filled with delicate pink. After putting on her clothes and lifting the skirt, such a seductive scene beneath the hem made him somewhat speechless. He stammered, unable to speak, and even stopped his action of putting on her shoes. It wasn’t until Chu Xianning’s toes gently touched his chest that she softly said, “There’s still one shoe left to put on.”
As she spoke, her hand still held the hem of the skirt, and her pair of long, fair legs parted even further.
Jiang Huai was caught between looking down to carefully put on her shoes and looking directly into her eyes, unable to advance or retreat. It wasn’t until Chu Xianning’s hand pressed down on the hem of her skirt again that she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “There, even if Qingyu likes it a lot… being stared at like this all the time would make me shy.”
Only after Jiang Huai finished putting on the other shoe did Chu Xianning finally stand up and take Jiang Huai’s hand. The front of her skirt fell to her knees, so she didn’t have to worry about revealing anything if she jumped around. However, Jiang Huai’s head was still in a daze, his heart pounding as he walked beside Chu Xianning.
***
In the courtyard, within the pavilion.
Jiang Huai was playing Five in a Row chess with Chu Xianning.
Chu Xianning’s chess skills far surpassed Jiang Xiaohuai’s, and furthermore, the images in Jiang Huai’s mind wouldn’t disappear. He had no intention of playing chess at the moment and was easily overwhelmed by Chu Xianning on the chessboard, losing miserably.
“You’re not focused,” Chu Xianning murmured softly, lifting her lower leg from under the table and extending it. Then, she casually placed it on Jiang Huai’s leg. She hadn’t taken off her shoes yet, and the sharp tips of her high heels gleamed with a cold light, yet they were spotless. She had already protected herself with spiritual qi, and her clothes, shoes, and socks were all clean. The shoes were just for decoration.
“How can I not be focused? I was never able to beat Qingyu anyway.”
“But I heard from Mother that Jiang Huai Gege even beat the Dao Companion of that Chess Immortal from the Mu Family, and even won back the spirit stones for my mother.”
“That was cheating, it’s different,” Jiang Huai replied, his fingertips gently caressing the girl’s smooth, snowy instep. Every part of Chu Xianning’s body was so tender and delicate. But six months ago, his interaction with Chu Xianning was to avoid any physical contact as much as possible. At that time, his heart was peaceful and serene, but now, his mentality had completely changed.
“Is that so…” Chu Xianning picked up a crystal grape from the table, carefully peeled off its skin, and brought the grape to Jiang Huai’s lips with her slender fingers. Just as Jiang Huai was about to bite into it, Chu Xianning’s small hand retracted the grape. Her delicate pink lips parted slightly, and she gently took it into her mouth, her bright eyes looking at Jiang Huai without blinking.
Jiang Huai bent down and leaned closer. The girl’s cheeks tilted up slightly, but just as Jiang Huai was about to snatch the grape back, Chu Xianning playfully popped it into her mouth. The girl’s tender pink tongue entangled with Jiang Huai’s for a long time, and so, this kiss carried the sweet flavor of the grape.
By the lotus pond in the courtyard, Chu Xianning inadvertently glanced back. Her eyelashes trembled for a moment before she immediately looked away.
***
Chu Xianning suddenly found feeding Jiang Huai particularly interesting, so she put down her leg and sat down beside Jiang Huai. She started peeling the grapes and nuts on the table, feeding him piece by piece. Jiang Huai obediently acted like a puppy being fed. Occasionally, Chu Xianning’s fingertips would accidentally loosen, and the nut in her hand would fall onto his chest or collarbone. She would innocently blink at Jiang Huai, and he would lower his head to gently bite it back.
Can’t waste it.
But when Jiang Huai’s cheek tried to nuzzle against Chu Xianning’s chest, Chu Xianning reached out and cupped his face, her eyes serious as if she were coaxing a child. “No, you can’t today, tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow.”
“Not even a nuzzle?” Jiang Huai blinked innocently and aggrievedly.
Chu Xianning leaned close to his ear, her voice soft and slow. “The day after tomorrow, Jiang Huai Gege can do whatever he wants. Whether you want to kiss, lick, or leave tooth marks, Qingyu will be obedient.”
The girl’s voice seemed to possess a strange magic, causing vivid imagery to flood Jiang Huai’s mind. Instantly, his head felt even more muddled. He rested his head on Chu Xianning’s shoulder as if his strength had been drained. Chu Xianning sat beside him, quietly peeling nuts for him. She brought them to his mouth, and Jiang Huai opened his mouth to take a bite.
By evening, Jiang Huai went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Chu Xianning didn’t have any particular favorite foods. Her palate leaned more towards her mother, Luoyue Pavilion, preferring spicier food, but she also liked sweets. She would also eat milder dishes. Chu Xianning, on the other hand, only liked milder foods.
Jiang Huai’s dinner was very rich, with options for light, spicy, and sweet dishes, ensuring everyone’s preferences were met. After dinner, he accompanied Chu Xianning to continue practicing sword. Although Chu Xianning’s cultivation had reached the fifth level of Transc, her control over spiritual qi was not yet proficient.
While practicing sword, Jiang Huai suddenly realized that Chu Xianning’s request for him to practice sword with her might not only be because she wanted to become more proficient in using spiritual qi, but also due to a strange thought.
The thought of her wearing nothing under her dress made Jiang Huai lose focus. Later, it wasn’t just a loss of focus; he kept wanting to use the peach wood sword in his hand to force Chu Xianning to perform actions like lifting her legs or evading. Chu Xianning’s small face turned red, and she looked wronged and aggrieved. Yet, Jiang Huai had a strange intuition that she was deliberately provoking him.
He had already become a mouse manipulated in the palm of Qingyu’s hand.
The girl’s snow-white, lustrous long legs, faintly visible beneath her skirt hem, were like blooming roses, enticing. Jiang Huai practiced sword until he was gasping for breath. Now, he had physical cultivator strength, and short-term combat could rely on brute force. However, if the opponent wanted to use spiritual qi for a war of attrition, he would be somewhat powerless.
Jiang Huai pondered for a moment whether he could use the Hongmeng Life and Death Sword when he drew his sword to directly absorb lifespan, which could also restore some stamina. However, he quickly abandoned the idea. This certainly couldn’t be used in future sparring matches. If not careful, he could be accused of being too brutal, and if labeled an evil cultivator, no amount of explanation would clear his name.
His attention quickly returned to Chu Xianning in front of him. At this moment, Chu Xianning was holding her sword, breathing slightly heavily. In reality, she still had a lot of spiritual qi left, but she put down her sword, her cheeks puffed out slightly. “I’m not practicing anymore, Jiang Huai Gege is bullying me.”
She tilted her small face up slightly. “It’s time to bathe.”
***
The summer twilight was dim and gloomy. Water rippled in the bath. Chu Xianning’s bathrobe clung to her body as her white and tender hands diligently rubbed bubbles for him. Jiang Huai raised his hand when asked, and turned around when asked, not sparing almost every corner of his body, except for Jiang Xiaohuai who was not touched at all.
“Hee hee.” Chu Xianning’s fingertips lightly flicked Jiang Xiaohuai.
The embarrassed Jiang Huai turned to catch Chu Xianning, but she had already run away laughing. The two frolicked and tussled in the bath for a long time. Jiang Huai finally caught Chu Xianning in his arms. The girl’s body was smooth and soft. Chu Xianning stood on tiptoes in the water. She had been hard to catch earlier, but now, she neither hid nor did she not hide. Standing on tiptoes, she gently kissed his lips, while her legs clamped Jiang Xiaohuai tightly, not allowing him to move even a little.
***
Back in the room.
Chu Xianning changed into a soft silk nightgown and leaned by the bedside, flipping through A Mumu’s Warm Jade Exquisite Melody. Jiang Huai lay beside her, smelling the enchanting fragrance of the girl, but his heart couldn’t calm down. With a鲤鱼打挺, he got up. “I’m going out to look at the moon.”
“Mm-hmm,” Chu Xianning nodded obediently. So, Jiang Huai put on his clothes and got up. When he reached the courtyard, the sunset had completely set, and the courtyard was dim. The firefly stones were not lit, and the courtyard was pitch black. The lotuses in the lotus pond swayed gently. Chu Xianning, dressed in a white plain dress, sat by the lotus pond. At first glance, she appeared cold and ethereal. Jiang Huai slowly approached her and said softly, “Master hasn’t slept yet?”
“I just bathed. I’ll look at the moon for a while before sleeping.” Chu Xianning’s voice was neither sad nor happy, as calm as ever.
Jiang Huai also looked up, but the sky was completely dark now, and the moon was hidden by clouds. He scratched his head. “Where is the moon?”
“You talk too much.” Chu Xianning stood up and walked towards her room. After a few steps, she suddenly thought of something and turned back to look at Jiang Huai. “Even in the courtyard, make sure Luoyue Pavilion wears her clothes properly, don’t be so frivolous.”
There seemed to be a hint of displeasure in Chu Xianning’s tone, so Jiang Huai nodded. “Okay, I’ll tell Qingyu later.”
Jiang Huai always suspected that Chu Xianning might think he was the one who asked Luoyue Pavilion to dress like this. He had intended to explain himself properly and improve his image in Chu Xianning’s eyes, but as the words reached his lips, he didn’t know how to say them. So, in his hesitation, Chu Xianning had already walked back to her room. He could only silently swallow back the words of explanation.
Let’s see what little Bai Li is up to.
